The Los Angeles Rams are getting set to take on the Washington Commanders this weekend, and Rams head coach Sean McVay has his eye on Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.
When asked about Howell during a press conference this week, McVay had high praise for the youngster.
“Oh yeah, he’s a baller. This guy’s got the ability to create,” McVay said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “You can see he sees the field well. He can get through progressions quickly. He can make all the throws. He dissects and recognizes coverage contours quickly and he’s able to deliver the ball accurately. And then when things do go off schedule, he’s got the athleticism and the escape ability to buy time, keep his eyes down the field, and you can see guys understand how to be able to work with him. And they’ve got playmakers all around.”
Howell has certainly posted some mixed results.
Through the first 13 games of 2023, the 23-year-old has thrown for 3,466 yards, 18 touchdowns and a league-worst 14 interceptions while completing 65.8 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 85.6. Interestingly enough, Howell leads the NFL in both completions and pass attempts. He has also been sacked 58 times, which is the worst in the league.
In spite of all of Howell’s hiccups, McVay sees good things in him.
“[Y]ou see him and you’re thinking, man, this guy’s making a lot of plays,” McVay said. “He’s doing a lot of really impressive things both on-schedule and off-schedule. And you see why the people and the players in that organization have such belief in him. And he’s put a lot of really good stuff on tape and he’s dangerous as hell, for sure.”
I’m not so sure everyone would be so quick to agree with Sean McVay.
While Howell has absolutely shown some flashes, there are many who question whether or not he is legitimately the Commanders’ quarterback of the future.
There should be a host of good signal-callers coming out in the NFL Draft this coming spring, and with Washington sitting at 4-9, the franchise may very well decide to draft another quarterback.
The Commanders took Sam Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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